What does the iPad (or Jesus) mean to you?

April 8, 2010 in Christian Living, Pastors

In case you missed it, Apple has launched the iPad. This is a massive launch – $150,000,000 worth of iPads sold…on the first day.

Apple has a way of generating great loyalty and enthusiasm in its followers. The passion of Apple followers for Apple and its products is phenomenal. Seth Godin has written an interesting post on Apple’s tactics.

But it got me thinking – do Christians exhibit the same enthusiasm for Jesus as Apple fans do for Apple products? In this video, Apple fans express what the iPad means to them (it’s cool to see a Christian pastor interviewed!) But I wonder if a microphone was held in front of a Christian waiting outside church on a Sunday, if they would express a similar level of dedication and enthusiasm. What do you think?

  • david

    Hi Steve,

    I take your point – and it’s sometimes quite sad how much more excited we get about material novelties than the things that really matter. But i remind myself that these interviews with Apple-devotees are generally on the day of purchase – their equivalent of baptism, or an altar call.

    I find some solace in the endurance of Christian enthusiasm. People who are still excited after years (or decades) of following Jesus. Meanwhile, how many people are still bursting with excitement about an iphone – or their dvd player from 1999 (it’s sooo much clearer than VHS!). Few people still enthuse about the convenience of the audio cassettes (so much easier to transport than LPs) but there are people who have been faithfully following Jesus since the days of Bradman.

  • http://calumhenderson.com/ Calum Henderson

    Great to ask these type of questions!

    Hard to understand how Apple creates so much hype, but I would sadly say that this type of interview outside church would not give the same results.

  • http://www.stevefogg.typepad.com Steve Fogg

    Hey Steve,

    I know what you mean.

    Check out this link…

    http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/peace-be-with-you-from-the-lion-and-the-lamb-20100403-rkvw.html

    we got pg 4 of the Sunday Age (1/2 page worth of coverage wiht huge pic) on Easter Sunday. I think the biggest profile piece I’ve seen in a while on a church leader outside of the main denomination leaders.

    Dale raved about Jesus in the same way that many of us think about iwhatever Apple brings out. It was great to sit with him and hear him talk/rave about Jesus and how he has impacted him.

  • Steven Kryger

    Praise God! Thanks for sharing this Steve, I’ve also posted the link on Sydney Anglicans.

  • Michelle

    Hi Steve,

    I take your point – and it’s sometimes quite sad how much more excited we get about material novelties than the things that really matter. But i remind myself that these interviews with Apple-devotees are generally on the day of purchase – their equivalent of baptism, or an altar call.

    I find some solace in the endurance of Christian enthusiasm. People who are still excited after years (or decades) of following Jesus. Meanwhile, how many people are still bursting with excitement about an iphone – or their dvd player from 1999 (it’s sooo much clearer than VHS!). Few people still enthuse about the convenience of the audio cassettes (so much easier to transport than LPs) but there are people who have been faithfully following Jesus since the days of Bradman.